Composition for the prevention of sap staining and molding



Patented Sept. 7, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT; OFFICE.

ERNEST IBATEMAN AND ERNEST EVERETT HUBERT, OF MADISON, WISCONSIN, DEDICATED, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTC, TO THE CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES or AMERICA.

COMPOSITION FOR THE PREVENTION OF. SAP STAINING ANDllllIOLDING-Q N'o Drawing.

Application filed May 23, 1924. Serial No. 715,456.

(GRANTED UNDER. THE ACT OF MARCH 3', 1883; 22 STAT. L. 625.)

This application is made under the act of March 3, 1883, chapter 143 (22 Stat. 625) and the invention herein described and claimed may be used by the Government'of the United States without the payment to us of any royalty thereon. We hereby dedicate the same to the free use of the Government and the people of the United States.

Our invention relates to a composition for the prevention of sap staining and molding caused by the action of'fun i or bacteria on lumber by means of chemlcals which are poisonous to the organisms and which, when the necessity for their use is removed, evaporate spontaneously from the wood, leaving a surface which is not poisonous to humans and against which articles intended for human consumption can be laid without fear of affecting either the digestibility, odor or palatability of the foodstuffs.

In the art of prevention of sap staining and molding of lumber the processes followed so far with more or less success are of two distinct types depending upon the composition of the preservative used. (1) Sap staining and molding can be partially prevented by the use of an alkaline solution, which makes the surface of the wood more or less uninhabitable to the sap stain fungi or bacteria, or molds. This process is not, however, an unqualified success. (2) Sap staining or molding can be partially prevented by the use of a material poisonous to fungi, bacteria and molds. Such compositions as solutions of sodium fluoride or mercuric chloride have attained a certain degree of sucsess so far as sap staining and molding are concerned. However, there is left on the surface of the board a small amount of the. material which is poisonous not only to fungi, bacteria and molds but to human beings as well. Boards treated with these materials to prevent sap staining and,

molding cannot, therefore, be used in the manufacture of COIltfilIlGIS fOI' articles of food intended for'human consumption, such as butter-tubs, cheese boxes, fruit baskets and slack cooperage products.

Our invention relates to the use of chemicals which at the time of using are poisonous to fungi, bacteria and molds, but which by the action of the air are changed into a volatile poisonous material which evaporates and a harmless and odorless salt remains. In carrying out our invention we make use of the well known fact that salts of the alkalies or alkali earths with phenols or naphthols are decomposed by acids to form free phenols or naphtholswhich are volatile, andsalts of the particular acid used. Carbonic acid, which is always present in the air, is

strongenough to accomplish this decomposition.

- We have discovered that when boards or I other wooden products are dipped or sprayed with a Weak alkaline solution of a phenol the rate of decomposition of the phenolate is such that the poisonous property is retained on the surface of the board or wooden slightest odor to the wood. In carrying out our invention we prefer to dip or spray the boards or wooden products with the followmg solution: A solution composed of 1 lb.

of cresol and 7 oz. of caustic soda dissolved in 100 gals. of Water. This solution is more ly a typical example of a successful solution and is not to be taken as the Whole invention. The concentration of the solution'may be varied to fit the particular needs, or either the alkaline base or the phenol radical may bevaried to suit the requirements or the cost at the particular time of its use. Neither the method of applying nor the concentration of the solution, nor the actual combinations of the chemicals are important pro- .vided that the material used shall be one of the several soluble salts produced by the combination ofian alkali or alkaline earths with a water solution of an alkaline phenowith a phenol or crude oils from which phelate which will reactwith the air forming 11015 are obtainei an alkaline carbonate and a free volatile- Having thus described our invention, we phenol which. is dissipated by the air upon i claim evaporation of the water.

A process for preventing sap stainin and moldlng in oron wood and wooden pr ucts, ERNEST BATEMAN.

consisting of impregnating said products 7 ERNEST EVERETT HUBERI 

